Following her third-round exit from the 2025 US Open, Emma Raducanu announced her withdrawal from Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals squad, set to compete in Shenzhen, China, from September 16-21, 2025. The decision, reported by *Sky Sports* and *EssentiallySports* on September 5, 2025, saw Raducanu opt for the WTA 500 Korea Open in Seoul (September 15-21) via a wildcard entry, prioritizing her individual WTA schedule and recovery over team duties. This marks her second Billie Jean King Cup absence in 2025, having skipped qualifiers against Germany and the Netherlands in April to manage her physical health after a demanding season, per *The Guardian*.[](https://www.essentiallysports.com/wta-tennis-news-emma-raducanu-makes-saddening-withdrawal-after-us-open-exit/)[](https://www.stadiumrant.com/emma-raducanu-announces-major-withdrawal/)
Raducanu’s US Open campaign ended on August 29, 2025, with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Elena Rybakina in 62 minutes, a match she called a “difficult experience” due to Rybakina’s dominance, per *BBC Sport*. Despite the defeat, Raducanu showed progress, securing her first Flushing Meadows wins since 2021 against Ena Shibahara (6-1, 6-2) and Janice Tjen (6-2, 6-1), climbing to World No. 34 (*wtatennis.com*). Her withdrawal from the Cup, where she was named alongside Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, and Jodie Burrage to face Japan, was termed “saddening” by *EssentiallySports*, reflecting fan disappointment on X, with some labeling it a lack of national commitment, while others supported her health-first approach.[](https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/c5yln9v8g20o)
The move aligns with Raducanu’s focus on rebuilding under new coach Francisco Roig, who has helped her win 26 matches in 2025, her most in a season, per *TheTennisLetter*. Her history at the Korea Open includes a 2022 semifinal, though a 2024 foot injury forced a mid-match retirement (*tennis365.com*). The Lawn Tennis Association expressed confidence in the remaining squad, with captain Anne Keothavong noting, “We respect Emma’s decision and are ready for Shenzhen,” per *Express.co.uk*. Raducanu’s choice to chase ranking points for a 2026 Australian Open seeding highlights her strategic shift toward long-term consistency over team events.
